[scimc-news] Santa Cruz Indymedia Newsletter July 16, 2005

[the open publishing newswire]

SANTA CRUZ INDYMEDIA UPDATE, JULY 16, 2005
http://santacruz.indymedia.org

News and events currently featured as of Monday, July 16:


UPCOMING EVENTS

TODAY (Saturday) 12noon WAMM March for Medical Marijuana
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/18049/index.php

Sunday 7am Bus to San Francisco Gallo Boycott
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/18142/index.php

Monday 6pm Pajaro Primero... Stop Walmart! meeting
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/18165/index.php

Thursday 7pm Cruzin' Cuba film screening: Honey for Oshun
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/18143/index.php


Please visit this link for more event listings!
http://www.radicalendar.org/calendar/SC-IMC

PUBLISH UPCOMING EVENTS on the SC-IMC Calendar!
http://www.radicalendar.org/calendar/SC-IMC/all/new/index.php


WAMM MARCH FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, supporting organizations and
the community at large sponsor the WAMM March for Medical Marijuana on
Saturday, July 16th, 2005 at 12 noon on the Pacific Garden Mall, in
downtown Santa Cruz.

To join the MARCH please meet at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Cathcart
Streets at 11am. (Staging for the event begins at 11am.) The MARCH will
begin at 12pm. We will proceed walking north up Pacific to Church Street,
then assemble at Santa Cruz City Hall where we will hold a rally & press
conference at about 1pm.

We estimate more than 1,000 people will participate in this demonstration
of community solidarity opposing the recent decision of the Supreme Court
and of Congress that leaves sick and dying Californians vulnerable to
persecution from the federal government.

In a symbolic act of compassionate access WAMM patient members will lead
the March carrying live medical marijuana plants. This solemn event will
honor the 154 WAMM members who have died since WAMM's inception in 1993.
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/feature/display/17161/index.php


UPDATE ON 7/8 ANTI-G8 PROTEST IN SAN FRANCISCO

POSSIBLE LEGAL FALLOUT FOR PROTESTERS FROM SF'S ANTI-G8 DEMO

Demonstrators at the July 8th action met at 8pm at the 16th & Mission BART
Plaza. During the first half hour, protesters converged, and bilingual
pamphlets were distributed to residents, passers-by, and protesters.
Within a few minutes of marching, the SFPD declared the march illegal and
ordered those present to disperse. People continued to march down Mission
St. and were pushed from the streets onto the sidewalks. A sound system
was confiscated and the person carrying it was arrested relatively quickly
for noise "violations."

Once it turned onto Valencia Street, the march broke up as one portion was
blocked in by riot police and the other portion outran the cops. The march
was periodically broken into different groups, taking different routes
along Mission & Valencia streets. Many corporate businesses were targeted
for property destruction and newspaper stands were placed in the roads as
barricades to block the police. Damage to corporate targets included: Two
Wells Fargo Banks, a Bank of America ATM, Kentucky Fried Chicken, PG&E,
Chevron, Vanguard Properties, Skechers, and Shoebiz.

At 23rd and Valencia an altercation with police officers took place.
Reports say that officers ran their car into the crowd at unsafe speeds,
protesters attacked the car, and the police tackled people in the crowd. A
scuffle broke out and left one police officer injured with a cracked skull
that required 7 staples. 6 people were arrested and face severe charges.
One person is still being held on a $50,000 bond. Corporate news is
reporting that this incident is causing a political fallout within the
SFPD. Deputy Chief Greg Suhr is being transfered from the SFPD and it has
now been confirmed that the FBI is investigating the incidents.
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/feature/display/17160/index.php


SONG WANTS CITY COUNCIL TO HELP BRING THE NATIONAL GUARD BACK TO CALIFORNIA

Peace activists in Santa Cruz working with Code Pink & using the monicker
SONG, Support Our National Guard, are organizing to collect petition
signatures, and to get City Council and County Board resolutions passed in
support of a California National Guard recall from Iraq.

At the July 12 Santa Cruz City Council meeting, a few of the SONG members
spoke at oral communications. The Council will likely take up the issue at
its next meeting, July 26.
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/feature/display/17159/index.php


DECLARING INDEPENDENCE FROM THE DOMINANT PARADIGM ON JULY 4th

During the past Independence Day weekend, several concerned residents
bipassed picnics and fireworks in favor of a more thoughtful approach to
the 229th anniversary of the United States' independence from Great
Britain.

On Friday, locals gathered at Seabright Beach for an old-fashioned flag
burning party, complete with a bonfire and a large improv band. They
saught to draw attention to the current bill pending Senate approval that
would outlaw flag burning.

Local college students gathered Sunday in downtown Santa Cruz amid pleased
onlookers in a demonstration against the corporatization of our culture.

An unusual parade entry in the Aptos World's Shortest Parade generated
both applause and boos as members of the MediaWatch and Art and Revoltion
project simulated a global power struggle --- with George and Laura Bush
behind the wheel of a massive truck and the majority of the world pushing
it from behind.
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/feature/display/17158/index.php


METRO WORKERS STRUGGLE FOR CONTRACT

Santa Cruz Metro workers, are ramping up pressure for a fair deal after
their contract talks reached a stalemate. The contract for bus drivers,
mechanics, and other workers, expired this week, but was extended for one
week while the talks continue. The workers maintained a three hour picket
line at the downtown bus station Wednesday, after talks with management
broke off.

Transit workers around the nation have been facing off with employers over
health care and wages. In Oakland, CA a strike of 2,300 Bay Area Rapid
Transit workers was derailed early Wednesday morning, after union
officials, and BART management agreed to contract terms. Elsewhere, union
officials in Phoenix, AZ put the brakes on a June 30 bus strike, and in
Philadelphia last month, SEPTA (transit) workers agreed to stay on the job
without a contract until Sept 5.
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/feature/display/17155/index.php


THE SANTA CRUZ MIDNIGHT MYSTERY RIDE

Santa Cruz had its first Midnight Mystery Ride two Fridays ago. 30 riders
explored the dark hours of pedal powered play. It was announced at
Guerrilla Drive-In where 200 people cheered, but when it was time to ride
only 2 people came along.

"Just follow the flaming can of PBR on the back of my bike, and maybe
we'll pick up some folks along the way".

We darted down creekside paths through the circles and emerged onto the
ocean cliff, booming in the moonlight. The air was crisp and we jangled
past the lighthouse: car free and serene. We rounded the bend to the Pub,
expecting to see no one, but instead were challenged by an boisterous mob
of bikey kids.

"Where have you beeeeeen? We've been waiting 15 minutes....we already have
our milk and cookies...we want to go....."

And then the Mad Mystery ride began. We paraded up Pacific Ave, bells and
yells, sharing the Friday night traffic dance with the the cars and
pedestrians.
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/feature/display/17154/index.php


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effectively utilized in many different ways.

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